Fish lure



March 30, 1943- w. K. UPPERMAN 2,315,304

FISH LURE Filed Nov. 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet March 30, 1943. w, K, UPPERMAN 2,315,304

FISH LURE Filed Nov. 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 30, 1

UNITED- STATES 'zs ssee PATENT. OFFICE 2.815.804 man was William 1:. Upperman, Atlantic cans. .1. Application November 5, 1041, Serial No. 411.04:

. 13 Claims. The ilfventionrelates to fish lures or artificial bait.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a fishlure which may be used as a dangling, iigsing or trolling lure and which at all times will have alife-like action when in the water, re-

sembling the natural food of fish.

Numerous proposals have been made for fish lures constructed with a weight rigidly secured on the-shank of a fish hookand with a bucktail or feathers fastened thereon to conceal the hook. How ver, in all of the prior proposals, the balance of the lure'on the line was such that the lure ,did not fish" naturally, that is the action ofthe'lure in the waterdid not resemble the action of a live fish. This fault of prior lures is accentuated when there is slack in the line. Another objection to prior lures has been the tendency to produce a bubble caused by water passing through the eye of the hook. These bubbles are objectionable becausethe fishwill often strike at the bubble and miss the hook entirely.

It is therefore another object of the invention to provide a. fish lure which overcomes these 2 and. other disadvantages of prior lures, which will have the appearance of a swimming fish when being drawn through the water on a taut line and which will have the appearance and action 0]. 4H) v l portion adjacent the eye of the hook and-a rearwardly extending tapered neck portion 'around the shank and with a bucktail'or Weathers extending over the'neck portion and secured thereon by bindings or the like at least at both extremities of the neck portion so as to give the attached end portion of the bucktail or "feathers" a tapered iorm resembling apart oi the body portion of a minnow or small fish.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a fish lure with a body-forming weight secured on the shank of a hook and in which the shank of the hook is bent or curved within the body to emerge at the top thereof rearwardly of-v the forward end or nose of the body and disposed in the plane of the bill of the hook and substantially inline with barb thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention of a wounded fish when slack occurs in the line, 80 the invention,

so that at all times in the water the lure will have a life-like action and be more attractive and deceptive to the fish.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fish lure constructed so that the largest plane of the body'of the lure is vertically disposed in the water to be readily visible to fish and so as to use the least amount of weight to gain the greatest amount of visibility.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lure of streamlined construction which will create no unnecessary disturbance in the water and will not cause any eddys, bubbles or wake when drawn through the water and which will act as a halt in itself without the addition of any other bait.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fish lure constructed so that the outline there-- of presents a substantially continuous unbroken tion,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of another modifica- Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a further modification,

35 Fig. 7 is a central vertical section through a lure embodying a modificatlon'in the manner of attaching the bucktail,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view, similar to Fig. 3, and I Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view, similar to F18. 7.

Referring more particularly to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, i0 designates the shank of a fish hook formed with the usual bill I i terminating in a barb i2. A streamlined body I! is cast or otherwise formed on the shank of the hook. This body which may be formed of lead. synthetic plastics or other material having sufli cient weight for the purpose, is elongated and line with the body of the weight of the lure close pr fe y Somewhat t n d n the sides and is to the eye of the hook and partiallyv embedding the portion thereof adjacent the shank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fish lure with a weighted body mounted on the shank of a hook and having a bulbous forward disposed with its main central plane coincident with the plane of the bill ofthe hook. The portion of the shank of the hook within the body is inwardly bent, as indicated at I l in Fig. 3, so as to form an ansularly disposed terminal portion is 2 asiasoe terminating in the eye it which emerges at the top oi the body l8 rearwardly of the rounded nose portion thereofso that a substantial portion of the weight of'the body 63 is disposed forwardly of a vertical line through the eye.

The body it tapers rearwardly from the eye 18 to a rearwardly extending terminal or neck portion i8 surrounding the shank E0. The neck portion i8 is tapered from the main body to the tipend thereof and is encased by the forward ends of the hairs of a bucktail IS. The hairs are held in place by wrappings 20 of silk or the like at the base of the neck adjacent main body i3 and by wrappings II at the tip of the neck. The portion 22 of the hairs l9 covering the neck l8 between the wrappings 20 and 2| is preferably coated with lacquer and additional wrappings may also be provided over this area. The

spaced securing wrappings, or continuous wrappings over the extent of the neck portion ll cause the trailing portion of the bucktail to assume and hold a tapered form and to cling together sufficiently to present a life-like appearance.

The eye l6 of the hook is disposed in the plane of the bill II of the hook and in substantial longitudinal alinement with the barb l2 so as to be presented edgewise to the water as the lure is drawn forward, thereby eliminating any possibility of producing bubbles, and is partially covered by the material of the body l3 so as to present as little a projection as possible from the curved surface of the body. The distribution of the weight of the lure is such that the eye I6 is disposed substantially above the center of gravity, preferably a little forward thereof so that the drag of the bucktail is sufficient to cause the lure to ride level with the bill up when drawn through the water.

The slanting face or edge of the body l3 extending rearwardly from the eye l6 to the neck l8 provides ample room for the mouth of a fish to come into contact with the barb of the hook.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 4 embodies the general characteristics described above butis used when making lures with hooks having shorter shanks. In this form, the body 25 is molded on the shank 26 which is likewise bent within the body to emerge at the top thereof, as indicated in dotted lines, with the eye 21 protruding from the upper edge. The body 25 is relatively slightly shorter in the longitudinal dimension and wider in the vertical dimension than the body l3 and tapers more sharply from the eye 21 rearwardly to the tapered neck portion 28 extending along the shank 26. A bucktail 29 is secured on the neck 28 by spaced wrappings 30 and 3| at the base and tip of the neck as in the previously described form of the invention.

The modification illustrated in Fig. is appropriate for smaller hooks and includes a forward body portion 32 resembling the head of a minnow with the shank 33 of the hook extending through the body and terminating in the exposed eye 34 at the top of the body rearwardly of the nose of the body. A tapered neck portion 35 has a bucktail 36 secured thereon by spaced wrappings 31 and 38 at the base and tip of the neck, respectively.

The modification illustrated in Fig. 6 is appropriate for very small hooks and includes a body 40 molded on the shank of the hook close to the eye 4| and terminating rearwardly in a tapered neck 42, extending along the shank, to

which the bucktail 33 is attached by spaced wrappings M and 35. In this lure, the bucktaii covers the major portion of the weight since the neck preferably contains more material than the forwardly exposed bulbous part of the body.

In all forms of the invention, the portion of the bucktail, feathers or the like secured over the neck portion of the weighted body is preferably protected by lacquer or other plastic covering and may, if desired, be additionally secured and protected by additional wrappings intermediate the spaced wrappings at the ends of the neck in each instance.

Fig. 7 illustrates a further modification of the invention as regards the make-up and manner of attaching the bucktail to the lure. This,embodiment of the invention is practiced where a heavier or bushier bucktail is desiredand comprises an inner layer or bunch of hairs l6 positioned around the neck 41 of a streamlined body 48, which may be similar to any of those previously described, and secured by wrappings 49. The wrappings 48 in addition to being located at the base and tip of the neck, also preferably are continuous along the length thereof to firmly bind the inner bunch of hair and to form a firm core for an outer bunch or layer of hairs 5O overlying the inner bunch and wrappings therefor. The outer layer of hairs is secured by wrappings 5| which extend from the base of the neck 41 rearwardly and terminate short of the under wrappings at tip thereof so that the outer layer of hairs is caused to fan out more, as indicated at 52.

In all forms of the invention, the hairs of the bucktails are laid heavier at the top and bottom of the necks than at the sides so that they fan out principally in the vertical plane, thereby carrying through the streamlined formation and increased lateral visibility of the body, while at the same time acting somewhat as a rudder or stabilizer fin rearwardly of the body.

The body f the lure may be painted as desired to increase its attractiveness and visibility. This is particularly desirable where lead is used, but is not necessary where the body is made of colored plastics as these may be made in a variety of colors without theuse of paint.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that various other modifications and changes in the details and materials of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention within the scope of the appended claims. Where the trailing dress or ruff of the lure is defined as a bucktail in the specification and claims, it will be understood that this is primarily for convenience and that other materials than natural deer tail hair are contemp ated by thisterm.

I claim:

1. A fish lure comprising a hook, a weight body secured on the shank of the hook comprising a forward body portion surrounding the shank at the eye and a rearwardly tapering neck portion integral with the body portion and extending along and around the shank from the body portion in the direction of the bill of the hook, and a bucktail secured on the neck portion, the forward portion of the bucktail completely surrounding and covering the neck portion and the shank of the hook protruding rearwardly therefrom and firmly secured thereon by wrappings at least at the base and tip of the neck portion.

2. A fish lure comprising a hook having a shank and an eye at the forward end of the shank, a weight body comprising a forward bulbous portion surrounding the forward end portion of the shank to the base of the eye and a rearflattened weight body secured on and surrounding said shank immediately adjacent said eye with its major central plane substantially in the plane of the bill of said hook, said weight body having a protuberance extending forwardly beyond said eye and a rearwardly extending neck portion extending along the shank of the hook, and a bucktail fastened on said neck portion.

4. A flsh lure comprising a hook having a shank and an eye at the forward end of the shank, a flattened weight body secured on said shank immediately adjacent said eye, said shank extending through said body to the upper edge thereof and said eye being exposed at said upper edge rearwardly of the forwardmost portion of said body and a bucktail secured on said shank and I extending rearwardly from said body.

5. A fish lure comprising a hook having a bill, a shank and an eye at the forward end of the shank, a weight body secured on and surrounding said shank immediately adjacent said eye, said body being flattened with its major central plane in the plane of the bill of the hook, said shank extending through said body to the upperedge thereof and said eye being exposed at said upper edge intermediate the ends of the body, and a bucktail secured on said shank and ex-' tending rearwardly on said body.

6. A fish lure comprising a hook having a bill, a shank and an eye at the forward end of the shank, a weight body secured on and surrounding said shank immediately adjacent said eye. said body being flattened with its major central plane in the plane of the bill of the hook, said shank extending through said body to the upper edge thereof and said eye being exposed at said upper edge and disposed intermediate the ends of the body in substantial .alinement with the barb of the hook.

7. A fish lure comprising a hook having a bill, a shank and an eye at the forward end of the shank, a weight body secured on and surrounding said shank immediately adiacentsaid eye, said body being flattened with its major central plane in the plane of the bill of the hook, said shank extending through said body to the upper edge thereof and said eye being exposed at said upper edge and disposed intermediate the ends of the body in the plane of the bill and in substantial alinement with the barb of the hook.

8. A fish lure comprising a hook having a bill and a shank terminating in an eye at the forward end thereof, an elongated flattened weight secured on said shank with its major central plane substantially in the plane of said bill, said shank extending through said body to the upper edge thereof rearwardly of the forward end thereof and said eye being exposed at this point and a bucktail secured on said shank extending rearwardly from said body.

9. A fish lure comprising-a hook having a bill and a shank terminating in an eye at'the forward end thereof, an elongated flattened weight secured on said shank with its major central plane substantially in the plane of said bill said shank extending through said body to the upper edge thereof rearwardly of the forward end thereof and said eye being exposed at this point said body being tapered rearwardly from said eye and terminating in a neck portion surrounding said shank, and a bucktail secured on tion.

10. A fish lure comprising a hook having a bill and a shank terminating in an eye at one end thereof, a flattened weight positioned on said shank adjacent the eye, the shank extending through said weight in substantially the major central plane thereof and having the portion thereof within the weight bent inwardly to extend to and having the eye thereof protruding at the upper surface of the weight intermediate the extremities thereof.

11. A fish lure comprising a weight in the form of a flattened streamlined body, a hook said neck porhaving a bill. and a shank extending forwardly shank adjacent the eye, the shank extending through said weight in substantially the major central plane thereof and having the portion thereof within the weight bent inwardly to extend to and having the eye thereof protruding at the upper surface of the weight intermediate the extremities thereof, said weight being tapered toward the rear thereof and terminating in a neck portion extending rearwardly along the shank, and a bucktail secured on and concealing said neck portion.

13. A flsh lure comprising a hook having a bill and a shank terminating in an eye at one end thereof, a flattened weight positioned on said shank adjacent the eye, the shank extending through said weight in substantially the major central plane thereof and having the portion thereof within the weight bent inwardly to extend to and having the eye thereof protruding at the upper surface of the weight intermediate the extremities thereof, said" weight having a rounded nose portion disposed forwardly of the eye of the hook and being tapered rearwardly from the eye to a neck portion extending rear wardly along the shank, a bucktail having the forward end enclosing said neck portion, and wrappings fastening said bucktail on said neck WILLIAM K. UPPERMAN. 

